A weather advisory has been issued for Ireland by Met Eireann this weekend for a number of weather elements including heavy rain, strong winds, icy conations and snowfall for places as the country sits between two different airmass with colder air to the north and milder air to the south.

Weather Advisory for Ireland

Very unsettled weather this weekend with wet and windy conditions bringing a risk of localised flooding. Cold also, with wintry falls of snow and icy conditions.

Valid: 22:00 Friday 29/01/2021 to 23:59 Sunday 31/01/2021

Issued: 14:00 Friday 29/01/2021

Status Yellow - Rainfall warning for Wexford and Wicklow

Met Éireann Weather Warning

Heavy rain, turning wintry at times. Rainfall accumulations of up to 30 to 40mm, with a risk of localised flooding.

Valid: 03:00 Saturday 30/01/2021 to 15:00 Saturday 30/01/2021

Issued: 14:00 Friday 29/01/2021

On Saturday night and Sunday morning a band of rain will move in from the southwest extending northeastwards across Ireland with rain turning to sleet and snow across parts of Connacht, Ulster and North Leinster with some some accumulations leading to icy roads conditions and hazardous driving conditions.

The latest output from the ECMWF , GFS and Met Eireann HARMOINE model shows that snow/ice warnings will be issued on Saturday for the risk on Sunday with the possibility of rainfall warning also been issued for southern parts of Ireland.

From looking at the data available from these 3 models counties that could come under a Status Yellow snow ice warning are Mayo, Galway, Roscommon, Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal, Longford, Cavan, Monaghan, Meath, Westmeath, Derry, Fermanagh and Tyrone.

Some lower level areas of the Connacht and west Ulster could see between 1cm to 5cm with up to 10cm on higher ground areas going by the latest data output from the forecasting models.

Away from these areas in the other counties mentioned above anything from 0cm to 2cm could accumulate.

The latest output this morning from the ECMWF model then shows the risk of further falls of sleet and snow across the northwest region on Sunday night and Monday with further accumulations as the colder air stays put in these areas particularly across Donegal, Derry, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Sligo, Leitrim and Mayo. But at this stage that’s only showing on the European model with other not showing this.

Most models then forecast a band of rain again moving northeastwards across Ireland on Monday night into Tuesday with the ECMWF model again showing the potential for that rain turning to sleet and snow across much of Ulster but there is a big question mark on that at this time as this will depend on if the colder air stays across Ulster or moves northwards towards Scotland so at the moment its a wait and watch to see over the weekend for that time period.

No severe winds are expected this weekend but it will be windy at times across parts of the country with moderated to gusty easterly wind and strong around coastal areas with Gale force winds at sea.

Storm Justine will bring rain across Ireland tonight and on Saturday morning and was named by the Portuguese as it will bring some severe winds the western parts of Portugal today and Saturday.

I will have further update later this evening when the latest model runs come in.

Kenneth from the Donegal Weather Channel

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